Lee's Darian Long looks for room to run Aug. 26 at Grande Communications Stadium. Photo by Tim Fischer/Midland Reporter-Telegram

Lee's Darian Long looks for room to run Aug. 26 at Grande Communications Stadium. Photo by Tim Fischer/Midland Reporter-Telegram

Photo: Tim Fischer

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El Paso Montwood's Rene Ballesteros is dropped for a loss by Lee's Talmage Cockerell as Luke Stice comes in to help finish the play Friday night at Grande Communications Stadium. Photo by Tim Fischer/Midland Reporter-Telegram less

El Paso Montwood's Rene Ballesteros is dropped for a loss by Lee's Talmage Cockerell as Luke Stice comes in to help finish the play Friday night at Grande Communications Stadium. Photo by Tim Fischer/Midland ... more

Photo: Tim Fischer

McAfee’s 92 yards, 3 TDs helps Lee past EP Montwood

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Lee running back Jason McAfee wasn’t even expecting to see the field in the Rebels’ season opener Friday.

But when starter Travis Williams was sidelined by a helmet shot to the shin, the junior was whisked into action and seized the moment, carrying 19 times for 92 yards and three touchdowns in Lee’s 47-7 romp over El Paso Montwood at Grande Communications Stadium.

The game was the second of four games this week in the ASCO Midland Football Madnesss.

“It was unbelievable,” McAfee said. “At first it was kind of hard trying to get used to playing the game because this is my first year on varsity, but when I got out there and got used to it, it got easier.”

McAfee’s first carry was a 1-yard touchdown plunge that put Lee up 14-0 with 2:40 remaining in the first quarter.

The junior replaced Williams for good in the second quarter after Williams became the second Rebel to be sidelined on the night.

Lee lost junior defensive lineman, and team leader, Michael Morales on the third play of the game to what Morales said was an knee injury.

But head coach James Morton liked the way his team responded to their fallen comrades.

“We preach team, team, team,” Morton said. “I always tell them they’re one play away from being the starter — and that’s exactly what they did.”

Lee’s defense played well in Morales’ absence, only allowing one touchdown drive all night.

The Rebel offense wasn’t always sharp, racking up 10 penalties, but overcame the flags to rack up 442 yards.

Quarterback Talor Nunez, playing in his first varsity game as well, completed 10 of 13 passes for 156 yards and rushed 10 times for 79 yards.

But the star of the night was McAfee, who made sharp cuts to exploit creases in the Montwood defense all night and refused to go down on first contact.

And Morton was proud his junior running back got a chance to show what he was made of.